Folding bench



Sept. 21 1926.

w. J. HESS FOLDING BENCH Filed April 5, 1926 ji INVENTOR BY ATTORNEY Patented Sept. 21, 1926.

UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE,

WILLIAM J. HESS, 015 FORT WAYNE, INDIANA, ASSIGNOR T0 VAN ARNAM MAN UFAC- TUBING COMPANY, A CORPORATION'OF INDIANA.

FOLDING BENCH.

Application filed April 3, 1926. Serial No. 99,522.

This invention relates to improvements in folding benches suitable for use as a seat in a bath tub and bath room, and the object thereof is to provide a portable seat of light weight and great strength and which may be folded into compact form for storage in a small space.

These objects are accon'iplished by the construction illustrated in the accompanying drawings, in which Fig. 1 is a side elevation of a bench embodying the invention;

Fig. 2 is a rear elevation of Fig. 1;

Fig. 3 is a bottom plan view of one of the anchor plates for securing a pair of the folding legs; and

Fig. 4 is an end view projected from Fig. 3. l

The characters appearing in the description refer to parts shown in the drawings and designated thereon by corresponding characters.

The invention comprises a slab 1, preferably of wood and finished with a water resisting enamel-or coating. The slab is or greater length than breadth and has secured to its bottom face adjacent each end thereof an anchor plate 2 by means of screws 3. Each anchor plate is arched transversely to form a bearing 4 in which the corresponding folding support 5 has hinged relation. The outer end portion 6 of each anchor plate is of greater breadth than the adjacent portion in which the bearing 4 is formed, and at each side of said outer portion 6 is formed a curved and slightly backturned flange 7, between which flange the bent U-shaped top 8 of the corresponding folding support is sprung and frictionally held in position when said support is extended for use.

Each folding support 5 is formed by bending a rod in its middle portion to form the U-shaped top 8 and the adjacent legs 9, which legs are divergent respecting each other and extend in a common plane that lies in an obtuse angle to that of said U-shaped top portion 8, and said legs are connected together by abrace 10 at a point spaced from the lower ends of the legs. A foot 11, prefably of rubber is secured upon the lower end of each leg, and also a rubber buffer 12 is secured to the bottom of the slab 1 with which the brace 10 of one or the other of the folding supports has contact when the bench is folded.

In utilizing the invention the folding supports are extended into the position shown in Figs. 1 and 2 by forcibly swinging each support outwardly until its U-shaped top 8 is sprung into position between the curved flanges 7 of the anchor plate. When the support is thus positioned the U-shaped top bears against the bottom face of the corresponding anchor plate and thus the outward swinging movement of the support is limited, and because of the' lateral pressure of the U-shaped top against the adjacent curved flanges, the support is retained in extended position. The bench is folded for storage by forcibly swinging the supports'inwardly to closed position one overlapping the other and extending beneath the slab. As the supports are swung from extended position the sides of the U-shaped top spring toward each other so as to pass out of engagement with the flanges 7 of the anchor plate.

\Vhat I claim is 1. A folding bench comprising a slab, an anchor plate secured to the under face or said slab adjacent each end thereof, each plate having an arched portion extending transversely, and the outer end. portionof said plate having oppositely disposed inturned spring flanges, one at each side thereof, and a supporting member in connection with each anchor plate. said support being formed of a rod bent in its middle portion to form a U-ehaped top, which top has hinged connection in the corresponding plate, and

the sides of said U-shaped top having fastoning relation with the spring flanges thereof when. said support is extended for use.

2. In a folding bench, a slab; an anchor plate on the bottom of the slab adjacent each end thereof and having an arched portion IVILLIAM J. HESS. 

